Refrigerant Recovery Cooling Blanket

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a cooling blanket configured to be wrapped around a recovery tank during refrigerant recovery to prevent overheating of the recovery tank and a method for the same. The cooling blanket includes a rectangular body portion having a first side and second side constructed of an absorbent and heavy duty cloth designed to be frequently saturated with cold water after being wrapped around the recovery tank. The first side and second side further includes fasteners that are configured to removably secure the body portion around the recovery tank during the refrigerant recovery process. An interior surface of the body portion includes interior pockets designed to receive frozen cooling packs to further prevent overheating of the recovery tank. An exterior surface of the body portion may include customizable designs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/942,161 filed on Feb. 10, 2014. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to refrigerant recovery. Morespecifically, the present invention pertains to an improved coolingblanket adapted to be circumferentially wrapped around a recovery tankduring the refrigerant recovery process. The cooling blanket includes arectangular body portion having fasteners to removably secure the bodyportion to the recovery tank. The body portion is adapted to besaturated in cold water to aid in the refrigerant recovery process bypreventing the refrigerant from overheating during recovery.

Most homes and businesses have at least one machine that uses arefrigerant to heat or cool space, food or water. Recently,refrigerators, air conditioning units, heat pumps, and otherheat-exchange equipment contain refrigerant chemicals, such ashydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases that are compressed, circulated, andrecompressed. Some refrigerants like in vehicle air conditioning unitsor other industrial units may require the refrigerant to be changed dueto mechanical issues, however, most refrigerants can function for yearswithout being replaced.

The U.S. government began regulating the use of refrigerants with theClean Air Act of 1990, which prohibited the use of olderchlorofluorocarbons (CFC) when global warming potential and ozonedepletion potential raised concerns about their usage. Although HFC isnon-ozone depleting, this refrigerant and other similar refrigerantshave global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater thancarbon dioxide. Therefore, the Act gave the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) the responsibility of regulating the removal and recyclingof these materials and contains standards and guidelines for theirhandling.

Refrigerant recovery systems usually work using a vacuum or compressionpump connected to the machine that has used the refrigerant. Theserecovery systems are coupled to one or more tanks to drain therefrigerant. The refrigerant is pulled out of the compressor andevacuated into the recovery tank. The EPA have standards that require acertain percentage of the old refrigerant be evacuated from thecompressor. The refrigerant heats during the recovery operation andcauses an increase in pressure which decreases the rate of refrigerantrecovery.

The present invention provides a solution to overheating which in effectslows the refrigerant recovery process. The present invention provides acooling blanket configured to be wrapped around a recovery tank duringrefrigerant recovery. The cooling blanket includes a rectangular bodyportion having a first and second side, and exterior and interiorsurfaces, is adapted to be wrapped circumferentially around a recoverytank. The body portion is constructed of an absorbent cloth and isdesigned to be frequently saturated with cold water after beingcircumferentially wrapped around the recovery tank. The first side andthe second side include fasteners that are adapted to removably securethe body portion around the recovery tank. A recovery machine coupled tothe recovery tank contain cooling fans and is placed in close proximityto the recovery tank with the cooling blanket removably wrappedtherearound to aid in the cooling process. The exterior surface of thebody portion may further include customizable designs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to blanketsadapted to cool recovery tanks. These include devices that have beenpatented and published in patent application publications. Some of thesedevices disclose a wrapper composed of phase change material that isadapted to wrap around the circumference of a tank. Other devicesdisclose a thermal jacket consisting of a coil of tubes and a fill andpump mechanism to pump thermally conducive liquid therethrough. Thesedevices, however, do not disclose a body portion configured to besaturated with water having interior pockets designed to receive frozencooling packs for cooling a recovery tank. The foregoing is a list ofdevices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are hereindescribed for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating theunique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting thedrawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,840 to Scaringe provides a wrapperadapted to wrap around the circumference of a tank used to storesaturated condensed used refrigerant evacuated from a refrigerationsystem. The wrapper is composed of a phase change material that acts asa heat exchange medium by changing between solid and liquid phases atits melting and freezing temperatures selected from a particular rangeand thus served to provide a large thermal driving force so as to coolthe tank. However, the Scaringe device does not provide a body portionhaving interior pockets designed to receive frozen cooling packs.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,495 to Daigle provides a temperaturecontrolled thermal jacket for selectively heating and cooling arefrigerant container for capturing refrigerant. The Daigle devicediscloses a jacket formed of flexible material adapted to be coupleabout a refrigerant container. The jacket consists of tubes formed in acoil having an inlet and outlet. The Daigle device further provides afill mechanism adapted to couple to the jacket to fill therethrough athermally conductive liquid and a pump mechanism coupled between theinlet and outlet for pumping thermally conducive liquid therethrough.However, the Daigle device does not provide a body portion configured tobe saturated with cold water and having interior pockets for storingfrozen cooling packs.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,598 to Alderman discloses a heat insulation blanketfor reducing heat transfer between adjacent spaces having four plies ofthermoplastic material juxtaposed on one another. The plies are formedinto an array of sealed cells with inner cells formed from the innerplies and outer cells formed from the outer plies and inner plies. TheAlderman device includes phase change material filled in the inner cellsand gas in the outer cells. However, the Alderman device does notprovide a body portion having interior pockets and configured to besaturated with cold water to facilitate refrigerant recovery and preventrefrigerant overheating

U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,824 to Galockin provides a cooling jacket anddispenser system for a container of liquid beverage. The Galockin devicediscloses a flexible sheet of thermally insulating material fit around acontainer to be cooled thereby. The sheet has a cooling line coildisposed on the interior surface. The cooling line coil is connected toa cooling bath fluid supply. However, the Galockin device discloses acooling jacket for a liquid beverage, and does not disclose a bodyportion having interior pockets configured to facilitate refrigerantrecovery and prevent refrigerant overheating.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,629,988 to Samuel provides a curved jacket to cover theexterior surface of a barrel of keg. The Samuel jacket further consistsof a refrigerator section and a gate joined to the jacket at one side. Akeg or barrel can be placed therein through the gate and be completelyenclosed therein. The refrigerator section consists of a rectangularplate having a cooling member on the outer face of the plate and aheat-insulating liner. The cooling member covers substantially theentirety of the outer face. The Samuel device further discloses a panbeneath the plate and legs connected therebetween. However, the Samueldevice provides a device for cooling a jacket, and does not disclose abody portion having interior pockets for receiving frozen cooling packs.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks.Some of these devices disclose a wrapper composed of phase changematerial that is adapted to wrap around the circumference of a tank.Other devices disclose a thermal jacket consisting of a coil of tubesand a fill and pump mechanism to pump thermally conducive liquidtherethrough. These devices, however, are limited and do not disclose abody portion configured to be saturated with cold water and also havinginterior pockets for receiving frozen cooling packs.

The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing acooling blanket having a body portion having a first and second side,and exterior and interior surfaces. The body portion configured to bewrapped circumferentially around a recovery tank. The body portion isconstructed of a moisture absorbent duty cloth and is designed to befrequently saturated with cold water after being circumferentiallywrapped around the recovery tank. The first side and second side furtherinclude fasteners to removably secure the body portion around therecovery tank. The interior surface also includes a plurality ofinterior pockets that are designed to hold frozen cooling packs. It istherefore submitted that the present invention is substantiallydivergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it isclear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to coolingblankets for refrigerant recovery. In this regard, the instant inventionsubstantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofcooling blankets for refrigerant recovery now present in the prior art,the present invention provides a new and improved refrigerant recoverycooling blanket that is adapted to be removably circumferentiallywrapped around the exterior of a recovery tank to facilitate refrigerantrecovery and prevent overheating.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improvedrefrigerant recovery cooling blanket that has all of the advantages ofthe prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedrefrigerant recovery cooling blanket that is designed to facilitaterefrigerant recovery and prevent overheating that slows the recoveryprocess.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved refrigerant recovery cooling blanket that comprises a bodyportion having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a first andsecond side to be circumferentially wrapped around a recovery tank.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved refrigerant recovery cooling blanket that further comprisesfasteners on first and second sides to removably secure the body portionaround a recovery tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedrefrigerant recovery cooling blanket that includes interior pockets onthe interior surface of the body portion designed to hold frozen coolingpacks.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved refrigerant recovery cooling blanket that further comprises acustomizable design on the exterior surface of the body portion.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved refrigerant recovery cooling blanket wherein the device maybe readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy andare commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a side perspective of the present invention as removablywrapped around the recovery tank and coupled with a recovery machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the refrigerant recovery cooling blanket. For the purposesof presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention,the preferred embodiment will be discussed as removablycircumferentially wrapped around a recovery tank. The figures areintended for representative purposes only and should not be consideredto be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown a front perspective of apair of preferred embodiments 1, 2 of the refrigerant recovery coolingblanket 20. Blanket 20 comprises a body portion 21 having a first side22, a second side 23, an interior surface 24 and a coextensive exteriorsurfaces 25. The body portion 21 is configured to circumferentially wraparound a recovery tank with the interior surface 24 juxtaposed on thesurface of the recovery tank. The body portion 21 is composed of amoisture absorbent cloth, wherein the body portion 21 is frequentlysaturated with cold water after being circumferentially wrapped aroundthe recovery tank to cool the same. The first side 22 and the secondside 23 comprise complimentary fasteners to removably secure around therecovery tank by a fastener. Complimentary fasteners include hook andloop fasteners 26 and zip fasteners, however, without limitation, otherembodiments are alternatively composed of other suitable fasteners.

In the preferred embodiment 1, the first side and second side 23 furthercomprise strips of hook and loop fasteners 26 that are removably securethe body portion 21 around the recovery tank. In the alternativepreferred embodiment 2, the first side 22 and second side 23 inembodiment 2 further comprise a zip fastener having strips of tape 27with attached teeth 28, and a slider 29. The slider 29 is configured tojoin and interlock the teeth 28 to removably secure the body portion 21around the recovery tank.

The interior surface 24 may further comprise a plurality of interiorpockets 31 that are each configured to receive a frozen cooling pack 32to maintain the efficiency of the refrigerant recovery process. Thefrozen cooling packs 32 that can be placed therein include dry ice packsand ice packs. Each of these interior pockets 31 are substantiallyrectangular in shape having enclosed sides and bottom, wherein an openupper end is open for access to an interior chamber within the interiorpocket 31. The interior chamber of each interior pocket 31 is designedto receive therein the frozen cooling pack 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown blanket 20 removablycircumferentially wrapped around recovery tank 30. A conventionalrecovery machine 31 generally includes a compressor and a cooling fan.The recovery machine 31 condenses the refrigerant and supplies thecondensed refrigerant at saturation to the coupled recovery tank 30. Therecovery tank 30 is thus warmed by the saturated refrigerant. Theblanket 20 is frequently saturated in cold water upon securement to aidin the refrigerant recovery process by preventing the refrigerant fromoverheating during recovery.

The recovery tank 30 is substantially cylindrical body having an upperend 40 and a bottom end. Typically, the upper end 40 has a flange thatholds a release valve. The blanket 20 is circumferentially wrappedaround the cylindrical body of recovery tank 30 while leaving the upperend 40 and the bottom end open and unenclosed, wherein the flange 33 onthe upper end 40 is uninhibited by the blanket 20. During therefrigerant recovery process, cold water absorbed by the body portion 21slowly evaporates, as the recovery tank 30 heats during recovery. Tocontinue to facilitate refrigerant recovery, the body portion 21 isperiodically saturated with cold water to prevent overheating. Inaddition, the interior surface of the body portion 21 includes interiorpockets that receive frozen cooling packs that further aid in preventingoverheating of the recovery tank 30. The recovery machine 31 is alsoplaced in close proximity to the recovery tank 30 to permit the coolingfans within the recovery machine 31 to further aid in the coolingprocess.

The body portion 21 is preferably composed of cotton, however withoutlimitation, other suitable absorbent fabrics are used in otherembodiments. In addition, the absorbent fabric may further be coatedwith a polymer that allows the fabric to absorb more cold water. In someembodiments, the exterior surface 25 of the body portion 21 may furthercomprise customizable designs.

According to the preferred embodiment, the cooling blanket 20 furtherprovides a method of cooling a recovery tank 31 during refrigerantrecovery to aid in the refrigerant recovery process comprising the stepsof:

(a) selecting a recovery tank 30 that requires refrigerant recovery;(b) wrapping a cooling blanket 20 having a plurality of interior pocketsconfigured to receive frozen cooling packs on an interior surfacethereof;(c) storing said frozen cooling packs within said interior pockets;(d) fastening said cooling blanket 20 around said recovery tank 30,wherein said cooling blanket 20 includes a first side and a second sidehaving aligning fasteners configured to removably secure said coolingblanket therearound.

Accordingly, the method of cooling a recovery tank during refrigerantrecovery to aid in the refrigerant recovery process further comprisesthe steps of:

(e) saturating said cooling blanket 20 frequently with cold water toprevent said recovery tank from 3 overheating and slowing therefrigerant recovery process.(f) placing a cooling fan nearby said recovery tank 30 to further aid insaid refrigerant recovery process.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation,assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilledin the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specifications are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A refrigerant recovery cooling blanket, comprising: arectangular body portion having a first side and a second side; saidfirst side and said second side having complimentary fasteners; whereinsaid fasteners are designed to removably fasten said first side to saidsecond side when wrapping a recovery tank with said body portion; saidbody portion having an interior surface that further comprises aplurality of interior pockets; wherein each of said interior pocketsconfigured to receive a frozen cooling pack.
 2. The refrigerant recoverycooling blanket of claim 1, wherein: said frozen cooling pack includes adry ice pack or an ice pack.
 3. The refrigerant recovery cooling blanketof claim 1, wherein: said body portion is composed of a moistureabsorbent fabric.
 4. The refrigerant recovery cooling blanket of claim1, wherein: each of said interior pockets has enclosed sides and bottom,wherein an open upper end is open for access to an interior chamberwithin said interior pocket; wherein said interior chamber is designedto receive therein said frozen cooling pack.
 5. The refrigerant recoverycooling blanket of claim 1, wherein: said fastener is a zip fastener ora hook and loop fastener.
 6. A method of cooling a recovery tank duringrefrigerant recovery to aid in the refrigerant recovery process,comprising the steps of: selecting a recovery tank that requiresrefrigerant recovery; wrapping a cooling blanket having a plurality ofinterior pockets configured to receive a frozen cooling packs on aninterior surface thereof; storing said frozen cooling pack within saidinterior pockets; fastening said cooling blanket around said recoverytank, wherein said cooling blanket includes a first side and a secondside having aligning fasteners configured to removably secure saidcooling blanket therearound.
 7. The method of cooling a recovery tankduring refrigerant recovery to aid in the refrigerant recovery processof claim 5, wherein: said frozen cooling pack includes a dry pack or anice pack.
 8. The method of cooling a recovery tank during refrigerantrecovery to aid in the refrigerant recovery process of claim 5, furthercomprising the step of: saturating said cooling blanket frequently withcold water to prevent said recovery tank from overheating and slowingthe refrigerant recovery process.
 9. The method of cooling a recoverytank during refrigerant recovery to aid in the refrigerant recoveryprocess of claim 5, further comprising the step of: placing a coolingfan nearby said recovery tank to further aid in said refrigerantrecovery process.